Florida Panther Festival 2011

The Florida Panther Festival was held at North Collier Regional Park on Saturday. The event hosted panther activities, exhibits, presentations, labs, live music and speakers to educate the public about Florida's ecosystem.

Jason Easterly/Special to the Daily News Florida Fish and Wildlife displayed animals that had fallen prey to car accidents to educate the importence of driving carfully in animal habitates during the Florida Panther Festival held at North Collier Regional Park on Saturday. The event hosted panther activities, exhibits, presentations, labs, live music and speakers to educate the public about Florida's ecosystem.

Jason Easterly/Special to the Daily News Laudy Toledo, 4, of Naples looks at her newly painted butterfly in the mirror during the Florida Panther Festival held at North Collier Regional Park on Saturday. The event hosted panther activities, exhibits, presentations, labs, live music and speakers to educate the public about Florida's ecosystem.

Jason Easterly/Special to the Daily News Alexandra Sulecki paints a butterfly on Madaline Molandes, 6, of Naples during the Florida Panther Festival held at North Collier Regional Park on Saturday. The event hosted panther activities, exhibits, presentations, labs, live music and speakers to educate the public about Florida's ecosystem.

Jason Easterly/Special to the Daily News David Shindle, panther biologist with the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, talks about the equipment used to research and monitor the activity of Florida Panthers during the Florida Panther Festival held at North Collier Regional Park on Saturday. The event hosted panther activities, exhibits, presentations, labs, live music and speakers to educate the public about Florida's ecosystem.

Jason Easterly/Special to the Daily News Local artist Kim Willis paints a large scale depiction of Earth during the Florida Panther Festival held at North Collier Regional Park on Saturday. The event hosted panther activities, exhibits, presentations, labs, live music and speakers to educate the public about Florida's ecosystem.

Jason Easterly/Special to the Daily News Hundreds of people were in attendace at the Florida Panther Festival held at North Collier Regional Park on Saturday. The event hosted panther activities, exhibits, presentations, labs, live music and speakers to educate the public about Florida's ecosystem.

Jason Easterly/Special to the Daily News Carolyn Marek of Clearwater works on a woodburning piece on Bass Wood during the Florida Panther Festival held at North Collier Regional Park on Saturday. The event hosted panther activities, exhibits, presentations, labs, live music and speakers to educate the public about Florida's ecosystem.

Jason Easterly/Special to the Daily News FGCU's "Wings of Hope" mascot Patty the Panther meets children during the Florida Panther Festival held at North Collier Regional Park on Saturday. The event hosted panther activities, exhibits, presentations, labs, live music and speakers to educate the public about Florida's ecosystem.

Jason Easterly/Special to the Daily News Lindsey Fox, 5, front center, of Naples and her fellow Collier County Jr. Drill Team members perform cheers for patrons of the Florida Panther Festival held at North Collier Regional Park on Saturday. The event hosted panther activities, exhibits, presentations, labs, live music and speakers to educate the public about Florida's ecosystem.

Jason Easterly/Special to the Daily News Friends of Fakahatchee board vice president Glen Stacell talks with patrons about Fakahatchee Strand during the Florida Panther Festival held at North Collier Regional Park on Saturday. The event hosted panther activities, exhibits, presentations, labs, live music and speakers to educate the public about Florida's ecosystem.

Jason Easterly/Special to the Daily News Ricky Pires, Director of "Wings of Hope" at FGCU, talks about her organization during the Florida Panther Festival held at North Collier Regional Park on Saturday. The event hosted panther activities, exhibits, presentations, labs, live music and speakers to educate the public about Florida's ecosystem.

Members of Frontline Bluegrass perform for patrons of the Florida Panther Festival held at North Collier Regional Park on Saturday. The event hosted panther activities, exhibits, presentations, labs, live music and speakers to educate the public about Florida's ecosystem.

Jason Easterly/Special to the Daily News Participants of the Florida Panther Festival could participate in an educational fact finding expedition during the event held at North Collier Regional Park on Saturday. The event hosted panther activities, exhibits, presentations, labs, live music and speakers to educate the public about Florida's ecosystem.

Jason Easterly/Special to the Daily News Edil Sanchez, 7, of Naples colors the face of a Florida Panther during the Florida Panther Festival held at North Collier Regional Park on Saturday. The event hosted panther activities, exhibits, presentations, labs, live music and speakers to educate the public about Florida's ecosystem.

Jason Easterly/Special to the Daily News Ranger Andy Webb with the Everglades National Park talks with Dorothy Cornell of Sharpsville, Pa. during the Florida Panther Festival held at North Collier Regional Park on Saturday. The event hosted panther activities, exhibits, presentations, labs, live music and speakers to educate the public about Florida's ecosystem.